Surrogacy 101

"Sassy Surrogate" from Colorado Surrogacy Answers Your Questions About Medical Qualifications

Dear Sassy Surrogate

Hi Readers! I’ve received a lot of questions recently from surrogates who are frustrated when they get turned down by a fertility clinic or by an agency for a health issue that doesn’t seem that serious. I really empathize with you. It’s so hard to put yourself out there to do this beautiful, selfless thing for someone else and then be turned down for something outside of your control. It can feel like an unfair judgment on your health or life. But keep in mind that agencies typically only accept a small percentage of candidates, and fertility clinics accept an even smaller percentage. For them it’s about giving intended parents the absolute best chance for a good outcome, so being really picky is part of the process. Your desire to do this for someone else remains beautiful and inspiring, but it might take some time to find the right fit of clinic/agency/IP. Here are a couple of questions on this topic I’ve received recently. Take heart, and keep those questions coming! - Sassy

Dear Sassy: I had a boyfriend 15 years ago who gave me genital warts. I haven’t had a flare-up for 10 years, and my OB has said that it’s not an issue for me when being pregnant or delivering, unless I have a flare-up, and that I can take medications to help prevent a flare. But I’ve recently been denied by a fertility clinic for just that reason. What’s up with that? I am so eager to be a surrogate and I feel really upset about this. – Frustrated in Franktown

Dear Frustrated: That is really frustrating! I get it: a diagnosis of HSV-2 or genital warts isn’t fun, but it’s also not the end of the world. And your OB is right that it is generally very low risk when it comes to being pregnant and delivering. However, it’s also true that fertility clinics can be very strict about HSV-2 and will sometimes deny working with a surrogate who has it. This is because there is a (slight) risk of passing the disease on to a fetus in utero or during delivery. For this reason, some agencies won’t approve a candidate because it’s hard to get a clinic to approve the candidate. There are agencies and clinics that do accept candidates who have had HSV-2, as long as intended parents are aware of the risks. I really hear you. It feels terrible to be turned down by an agency or clinic for something that doesn’t seem like that big of a risk, and it can feel like a judgment. But it’s not at all a judgment call– fertility clinics, agencies and IPs are all working a risk game, and some will take bigger risks than others. HSV-2 isn’t that big of a risk in the scheme of things, and you may find a different clinic or agency that will be less stringent on this particular diagnosis.

Dear Sassy: I have 3 kids, great pregnancies and deliveries with all of them. But during my second pregnancy I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I never had a high blood sugar reading other than the days of the hour glucose tolerance tests, and I never took medication for it. I just ate well and stayed active (like I did with my other pregnancies). A friend of mine who wanted to be a surrogate was denied by an agency for having had gestational diabetes. Now I’m afraid I’ll be denied, but my OB had said it wasn’t a big deal, and that I probably didn’t actually have gestational diabetes. How I do move forward with my dream to become a carrier for another family? – Healthy and Dreaming

Dear HAD: One of the challenges about being a surrogate is that your health history (specifically your written health history, like medical records) is picked over with a fine-tooth comb, and things that wouldn’t normally be a big deal for your own pregnancy become a big deal for a surrogacy pregnancy. Some agencies and fertility clinics will work with surrogate candidates who had diet-controlled gestational diabetes, and some won’t because the risk is greater that you will text positive for gestational diabetes in future pregnancies. As it is impossible to prove that you didn’t have gestational diabetes (though it may be probably in your OB’s eyes), stricter fertility clinics may turn you down, and agencies that work with stricter fertility clinics may turn you down, too. When you start on your journey of finding an agency or self-matching, make sure everyone knows you had a gestational diabetes diagnosis. Some agencies may accept you and just not match you with IPs who are using a more strict clinic. Don’t be discouraged! There is still the chance to find the perfect family to work with. It just might take a little more effort to find the right agency and fertility clinic.

Colorado Surrogacy [www.coloradosurro.com] loves to support gestational carriers of all types: Sassy, sensational and splendid. Their entire team [https://www.coloradosurro.com/meet-the-staff] loves to provide support and encouragement through journeys of all types.

Surrogacy 101 Included in Top 10 Surrogacy Blog Contest for 2019

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for their favorite blogs! Surrogacy 101 took 7th place and I am happy and honored to be included in the top 10! If there is a topic you would like to see addressed in Surrogacy 101 just let me know! Many thanks to MySurrogateMom.com and David Bull for holding the contest and congratulations to my fellow participants! There are some great blogs out there offering a ton of information on surrogacy and other family building options. Click the link at the bottom of this post to see which blogs should be on your reading list!

 

The moment you understand that you will need the help of surrogacy to create the family you wish, so much can be scary and emotional. And when you start looking for information about surrogacy, you will realize that there are so many resources out there that it is natural to feel overwhelmed. Going through this by yourself can feel lonely at times, and that is normal. For this reason, we have decided to help you by researching the best surrogacy blogs and creating a list of the top ten surrogacy blogs for 2019!

 

These blogs were nominated by our readers, pre-selected based on content quality and how often they are updated, and finally ranked by your more than 3,000 votes in our contest, The Top Surrogacy Blog Awards 2019. We want to thank all of you for your participation in the process, from the initial nominations to the vote.

 

Before announcing the top 10 surrogacy blogs, remember that education is fundamental when pursuing surrogacy; the more you know, the better prepared you will be for what lies ahead. Research, read, learn, and ask!

 

And now click here for  the Ultimate List of Top Ten Surrogacy Blogs!

 

 

 

Looking for That Meaningful Gift to Represent the Unique Relationship Between a Surrogate and Her Intended Family: by Guest Blogger Louma El-Khoury Salloum Owner of Pokidots

The surrogacy journey can be a very draining one. It starts as a positive solution or an opportunity, but it carries with it a load of demands, from medical and legal requirements to psychological and financial responsibilities. The result of this wonderful and tumultuous journey is very much worth the temporary difficulties, though, and the connection that the surrogate and the intended parents end up developing is unlike any other and is one to be treasured forever.

When surrogates look for meaningful gifts for their intended families, the first things that come to mind are baby items to help the intended families in their new path as parents. But do generic gift baskets and baby bundles genuinely represent the true intimate nature of the relationship between the surrogates and their intended families?

How about a special gift that’s meaningful and that serves as a true link between all the parties, including the baby? I am talking about a keepsake—a piece of art that’s made with a birth blanket or one of the very first baby items used at the birth—to mark that special event and the precious relationship that made it happen.

At my Seattle studio, Pokidots!, I take sentimental baby items and make beautiful keepsakes that can be displayed in your home, and that tell the unique and wonderful journey of your family and your baby. A first blanket, a hospital hat, a coming-home outfit, or a favorite onesie become exceptional pieces of art made just for you.

These keepsakes tell stories of long years of infertility that ended with a miracle, stories of grandparents from the 1940s, sleepless nights and grateful days, and everything in between. Choose between 7 styles currently offered and further personalize your keepsake with a first name, an initial, or a short note. Once you send me the outfit or baby item with which you have chosen to have a keepsake made, it will only take a couple of weeks for you to receive it or have it delivered to your recipient.

Parents have described their keepsakes as “more than decorative art [but] treasured heirlooms to pass on” and “unique, wonderfully made pieces of art that are precious and personal to [their] family.” I love taking a small part in the stories of the families with whom I have worked by creating for them a keepsake they can cherish and pass on. The stories and the memories will live forever in these treasured pieces of art.

I would love to create something to capture your unique journey and connection as well. Contact me at [email protected] or visit www.pokidots.com to begin.

Louma El-Khoury Salloum

Artist & owner
www.pokidots.com
Instagram: @pokidots

Surrogacy 101 Could Use YOUR Support! Please Take a Moment and VOTE!

A few weeks ago, www.MySurrogateMom.com launched a contest to help find the Top 10 Surrogacy Blogs. They received a large number of nominations, and today announced 30 finalists! It’s time to choose the winners and decide who will make the Top 10 Surrogacy Blogs.

Surrogacy 101 blog is one of the Top 30 Surrogacy Blogs and I truly am grateful for your nominations! So, one last request! Please vote for Surrogacy 101 by clinking HERE!! If you truly feel that this blog has given you some perspective on your surrogacy journey or answered some of your most pressing surrogacy questions then it has done its job. I also want to thank all of my guest bloggers! You all make this blog possible!! Thank you in advance for your votes! 

You can vote for as many blogs as you like but you can only vote once for each finalist. And remember, voting will close at midnight on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, so vote for your favorites now before it’s too late!

Ohhhh I Love a Great Contest! Please Nominate YOUR Top Surrogacy Blogs!! Hosted by MySurrogateMom.com

(Of course I would love it if you would enter Surrogacy 101 as your blog choice!)

Just add your favorite surrogacy blog and let the games begin! It's a great way to share information and award the best 10 surrogacy blogs out there! ;-)

Today, we are announcing our contest to help us choose the top ten surrogacy blogs. Don’t miss your chance!

Who made you smile? Offered support and advice? Encouraged you to make a big change? Provided first-class surrogacy content? Share the love and help us identify the best surrogacy blogs.

On April 19, 2019, the MySurrogateMom team will pick 30 blogs for the finals. The winners of the competition (who will made our top ten surrogacy blog list) will be determined by a general vote. Voting will be available from April 19, 2019, to April 30, 2019. Follow to us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, for the contest results!

Click here and Please Submit your Nomination!

Competition Rules

A blog is defined as a web page with dated entries.

The competition is open both to individual surrogacy bloggers and professional blogs operated by companies.

Nominations and votes are anonymous.

All nominations will be reviewed by the MySurrogateMom team and are subject to approval.

Winners will be chosen by the public.

E-mail addresses are required to vote.

Key Deadlines

Complete the form below to nominate a blog. Hurry up! Nominations will be accepted until April 18, 2019.

On April 19, 2019, the MySurrogateMom team will pick 30 blogs for the finals. The winners of the competition (who will made our top ten surrogacy blog list) will be determined by a general vote. Voting will be available from April 19, 2019, to April 30, 2019.

Follow to us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, for the contest results!

The MySurrogateMom Awards is a non-profit project to award the best surrogacy blogs. If you have questions about the contest, please contact us.

 

Please Don't Use This to Prank ANYONE on April Fools Day--The Always Positive Pregnancy Test

Frankly, when I saw this Always Positive Pregnancy Test I thought what a horrible joke to play on anyone. And then I remembered why I was thinking that...because I work with infertile couples all the time! People who have been trying for years to have a baby of their own and now have to go even one step further and work with a surrogate. Or an egg donor. Or both! It will never be the "Right Time" to use this test. (That can be activated by any liquid to show up positive). Please think before you play any pranks like this because it's never fun to be on the is she/isn't she roller coaster ride. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy Holiday Season!

Review of Two Kellogg's FiberPlus Cereals: A LaMothe Product Review

When trying to conceive or just trying to eat a more balanced diet, we all become aware of how important healthy eating habits are. We are told to eat more fiber, add more antioxidants and find a way to enjoy doing just that. Well, I was asked to review 2 of Kellogg's FiberPlus cereals: Kellogg's FiberPlus^® Berry Yogurt Crunch and Kellogg's FiberPlus^® Cinnamon Oat Crunch. I received two full boxes and shared them with my husband and my 15 year old daughter. (and you know how picky 15 year olds can be!) Needless to say these two boxes didn't last long in our household. Both cereals tasted great and lived up to the wonderful Kellogg's reputation for producing healthy and tasty products. I felt like I was providing my family nutritious choices for their morning meal.  My daughter loved the Cinnamon Oat Crunch the best where my husband and I agreed that the Berry Yogurt Crunch was our favorite.  I would highly recommend that you give all of the FiberPlus cereals a try!

The Optimist’s Path by Guest Blogger Dr. Christina Grant

Childhood experiences, environment, success and disappointment can play a role in shaping our attitudes. But whatever your current worldview might be, there is always room for a little more optimism. Especially now, when one dark thing after another appears on the nightly news, flexing the optimist muscle is imperative. This helps life become more meaningful, lifts physical energy and vitality, and certainly makes it nicer for others to be in our presence.  

A friend and I were talking about the concept of good health being related to a positive mental attitude. My view was that a positive outlook is a healthier way to live and can even prevent illness. But he countered with something interesting. He said, “Some of the nastiest, most negative thinking people I’ve known have lived to be very old.” Once I thought about this, I had to agree - I’ve seen this too. 

Although we’ve all known a difficult, cantankerous person who lived to old age, I still believe keeping a positive focus is important for physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. I like what Dr. Karl Menninger said, a founder of the Menninger Clinic and proponent of blending psychiatry and medicine: “Set up as an ideal the facing of reality as honestly and as cheerfully as possible.”

 Why go the opposite route? It’s apparent that many of us choose the path of complaining and misery, but why? About complaining, a wise teacher I once had said, “It’s self-correcting. One eventually sees the futility of one’s own negativity, although this may take many lifetimes.” I found this to be an interesting way to look at it: we are all evolving and one of the roads in our travels is the road of pessimism! 

I’d like to think I traveled that road long ago, but things happen and sometimes it just feels really good to get right into the center of the mud pile and complain about everything. If we can be aware of the moment we choose to jump into the mess, and also be a little practiced in how to climb back out and clean off, then once in awhile maybe we can be excused and just indulge. Griping is an indulgence, after all. 

Affirmations are one way to help your mind stay focused on the positive and also to help dig yourself out of the mud pile once you’ve had your fun in there. I encourage you to set up your own self-fulfilling prophecies. Listed below are a few you can use to get you on your way.  

 I make conscious, positive choices

I have the kind of inner fortitude that survives and succeeds through anything

I live in true comfort and joy

I have a healthy vibrant body and mind

I forgive myself for everything

I am open to positive change

I flow easily with change

My own well-being is my top priority

Optimum health is mine now and always

I am fully loved

My body knows how to heal itself

I am completely healthy in every way

Every day I’m feeling happier

I am alive and healed on all levels

I remain in balance, steady, strong, peaceful

I have a lot of options

I have many opportunities

My life is filled with harmony

You can write them out, print and post where you can see them, choose one that resonates with you and put it on your refrigerator, or make a list of your own. Either way, you’re mental focus will be improved and, according to the latest studies on mind-body wellness, you will be healthier and happier. 

Christina Grant, Ph.D., is a specialist in Holistic Healing, Intuitive Guidance, and Energy Balancing. She has helped thousands of people transform physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. A widely published author, she also hosted the "Health Connections" radio program as well as co-hosting Monterey's "Your Health" television series. She is frequently interviewed on radio and television about various aspects of holistic healing. 

To learn more or contact her, visit www.christinagrant.com.

Cultivate Joy as an Antidote to Stress By Guest Blogger Christina Grant, PhD

There are many changes going on. From the power of the internet to new electronic devices, from weather and nature to the world itself, we are witnessing momentous times.

Sometimes the change can be overwhelming. It can touch us on a very personal level, emotionally, mentally, and even physically. Change brings stress, which can be felt even through minor infections and colds. 

Cultivating joy is a powerful antidote to the stress of change. Through the energy of joy, your immune system can overcome just about anything and you will find yourself enjoying life despite external events. 

One occurrence causing some folks stress is watching our collective shadow as a nation emerge. As this happens, it becomes more difficult for us to maintain our comfortable worldview. It also is more challenging to ignore our own individual shadow, which is the "dark" part of ourselves we try to hide and pretend doesn't exist. 

As a nation, our shadow holds judgment, blame, self-righteousness, racism, secrecy, and fear (among others). While this shadow gets illumined for us and the world to see, it is our opportunity as individuals to look within and witness our own shadow. 

What about your own self do you keep hidden away? This becomes part of your personal shadow. It’s not always easy to see, but when we can answer this, we become more conscious and wise. Our relationships become healthier. We are more able to add our light to the world, rather than our darkness.

For those of you willing to take a look at your own shadow, addressing the inner self is key. One way is to begin healing the damaged heart center, also called the heart chakra. Everyone has suffered heart wounds which can prevent the heart chakra from flowing in a healthy way. 

Compassion and understanding for ourselves and for people who hold differing beliefs filters through the heart chakra. Love for others and for our own imperfections is its domain, too. But how often do we find ourselves participating in negativity and fear instead of heartfelt love? At these times we have lost connection with the true self, the higher self, the more wise and divine self.

Stress and the rapid changes of life can be more easily managed when lost or hidden parts of the self are brought together, heart chakra damage is repaired, and we step into the more soulful self, thereby reconnecting with the nourishing energy of love. This activates a sense of well-being, which leads to joy. 

Here is one easy way to cultivate more joy in the midst of change. Notice how you feel in the center of your chest. Easy and flowing? Healthy? Tight, constricted, or closed off? Breathe slowly while focusing your attention on expanding and softening the area around your heart center (the center of your chest at your sternum). Continue to follow your breath in this way for a few minutes. You’ve just taken a powerful first step toward healing your heart chakra and alleviating stress. 

Christina Grant, PhD is a holistic healer, counselor, and writer living on the Central California Coast. Learn more at www.christinagrant.com.

 

 

 

Get Ready for the New Year! Healthy Home Improvement by Guest Blogger Christina Grant, PhD

For several years my home office has been the color of sea foam green. This particular room is always cold, even in summer, and needs an extra heater to bring it to a comfortable temperature. 

A few weeks ago as the weather began to turn chilly, in a moment of do-it-yourself enthusiasm I decided I was done with the sea foam green, a shade that can in fact make the room feel colder than it is. I wanted a color that would make the room warmer. 

Have you tried to decide on a paint color lately? It’s daunting. Standing in the middle of an enormous home improvement warehouse, I actually began to consult the names of the colors, as a way to help me decide. Who has the job of thinking up these names? I selected “Moroccan Sky,” an earth tone resembling terra cotta. Perfect. 

I wanted my Moroccan Sky to be zero-VOC to limit my toxic exposure. VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds found in a variety of products such as furniture, carpeting, adhesives, and paints. The compounds release into the air and can cause ailments from allergies to cancer to ozone layer depletion.

 Nowadays you can take in a swatch of color that can be matched in almost any brand of paint. But getting my exotically named orange-brown paint without VOCs apparently meant complications for the paint department employee, who seemed more interested in stocking shelves than mixing paint. So he said, “It’s a lot more expensive and really doesn’t matter. Today’s paints are all very low in VOCs. It’s not like the old days. These are all incredibly low, so just get what you want in any brand and you’ll be fine.” 

I doubted this, truly, but I was on a DIY enthusiasm roll which doesn’t come around often. I went ahead with Moroccan Sky and its “low” VOCs. Once back home in full paint mode, it was clear there were plenty of toxins coming out of the can, into the air, and onto my wall. The smell was so strong I took frequent breaks even though a good breeze blew through the windows. I began to wonder about cancer. I painted one wall, got out quickly, and let the room air out overnight with an air filter running on turbo. 

The next day I went to my small local hardware store and inquired about a paint color that is a few notches down the scale. It was a bit too ambitious after all, to have four “Moroccan” walls. I wanted warmth, not a cave. This paint department employee was very agreeable that zero-VOC, non-toxic paint is the way to go. He gave me literature supporting the reasons why it’s better for our health, which I knew but had lost sight of in my eagerness to get started. I settled on “Spiced Cider” and even the employee said it sounded wonderful. 

Let me spare you the further details of my painting adventures and get to the point, which is to say, if you are up for a change and would like to paint your home or office, spend the extra $10 per gallon to get paint that is safe for you, your pets, and the environment. Here are more reasons why: 

There are little or no noxious fumes.

There isn’t toxic off gassing, which can occur for years with ordinary paint.

You can use the room right away without having to wait for the smell to dissipate.

You’ll be exposed to zero carcinogens. Be sure to verify this in the brand you purchase.

There will be no risk of toxicity to your kidneys, liver, and nervous system.

You’ll avoid sinus inflammation and allergies.

You won’t harm the ozone layer.

A zero-VOC, non-toxic paint won’t add more caustic chemicals to landfills.

You’ll protect your pets from breathing toxic indoor air, which in many cases is much more polluted than outdoor air. Also, paint fumes can kill birds. 

Once I brought home my new gallon of Spiced Cider, I opened the lid and swiped a bit of it on the walls. Breathing easy, it felt like the best extra $10 ever spent. 

For more information, to contact, schedule a session, sign up to receive her newsletter, or read her blog, see www.christinagrant.com.

 

Happy Holidays!

 
Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/
LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting
http://lamothesurrogacyconsulting.com
727-458-8333

How to Clear the Energy of Your Home or Office by Guest Blogger Christina Grant, PhD

Illness, violence, arguments, drug-use, thoughts, and moods influence the energy of a place. When you enter someone’s home or office, part of you automatically notes how it feels. Conscious or not, this awareness seems to be a survival mechanism, keeping you alert for protection and safety.

Sometimes I meander through our neighborhood “open houses” to satisfy a curiosity about what type of home is selling for what price. These homes all speak to me about their dwellers. In some of the homes, the energy is such that it’s hard to breathe. If realtors were aware of how this energy affects the unconscious of potential buyers, they would clear the home energy first, before putting it on the market. 

Clearing a place serves to reset the energy. Just as you would clean dirty floors in a new home, it’s important to clean the energy. If you can’t see this energy, that doesn’t mean it’s not there. Before you bring anything into your new home or office, clear the space. Otherwise, you’re living in someone else’s energetic dirt, which can affect you.

I once toured a famous historic home near Boston. Our small group was told about the home’s original owners – folks who lived there when the first shot “heard ‘round the world” occurred. It was one of those places I had trouble breathing in, which was one sign the energy was stagnant. When we entered an upstairs bedroom, I could not only feel illness in the air, I could smell it. I said, “Someone had a long illness, probably died in this room.” The tour guide and the others looked at me as if I’d grown a second head. The guide then confirmed that an older woman had died there. I knew part of her was still hanging around. 

The energy of folks doesn’t go out the door when they leave. It clings to walls, drapery, furniture, carpet, and the air. When I have moved, I’ve tried to find out what was going on with the former tenants. How was their relationship? Their finances? Their mood? 

This coincides with the ancient practice of Feng Shui, which advises us to know the history of the home and its inhabitants before moving in. For example, if someone was ill, or if they fell upon desperate times, financially or otherwise, it’s unadvisable to move in behind them because the same thing can touch you. This can work positively as well. In one home I lived in, a two-story duplex, each of the tenants downstairs began as a single woman and moved out newly-wed. 

We aren’t always going to know what happened in a place before we move in. This is why I would clear any home or building as a rule. Clean thoroughly, wipe down walls, shampoo carpets and floors, and let fresh air blow through each and every room. Bring in as much natural light as possible. Sounds, chanting, singing, living plants, fresh flowers, and certain crystals are also helpful in moving and transforming energy. 

In tougher cases where something seems strange or you know there was negativity or death, use additional clearing techniques. The main one I use comes from the Native American tradition. This technique was explained to me years ago by a Native American medicine man in the hills near Lake Arrowhead. A friend had just bought a fixer nearby which had a dreadful energy, to the point we didn’t want to enter one of the rooms at all. We wanted the medicine man to come to the house, but he said it wasn’t a good day for him and we could do it ourselves.  

Of course, he said to use the Native American herb white sage, wrapped into a tight bundle (sometimes called a smudge stick or sage wand). Open all the windows or just crack them if it’s windy. Open cabinets and closet doors. Light the tips of the sage with a match and extinguish the flame so the wand lightly smokes. Walk counterclockwise around the home, into each room. Allow each corner, cupboard, and closet to receive the smoke. When finished, pass by again in a clockwise direction. 

Sage alone creates a void, so it’s advisable to use another herb blended with it such as lavender or sweet grass. This pulls in a more positive energy as the older, stagnant energy exits. If you just have straight sage, use your intention to bring in higher, more positive energy. Our medicine man also advised us to throw sea salt in the corners of the house for good measure and leave white candles burning (with supervision). 

There are many different variations on how to clear a space. I’ve found a thorough cleaning combined with the simple use of sage is usually enough. Ongoing, sage can be used to reset the energy of a place after there has been any sort of upset. 

For more information, to contact me, schedule a session, sign up to receive my newsletter, or to read my blog, see www.christinagrant.com.

 

 

Compost: Turning Your Cast-Off Food Into Gold By Guest Blogger Dr. Christina Grant

 

Made from your table scraps (except meats and seeds) and yard waste, composting is the key to sustainability and organic gardening. It reduces your trash and the amount of junk that ends up in landfills, that is, if you aren't a big fast food fan and you actually eat fresh food.

There is little to no actual trash in my garbage bin. I recycle any paper products or glass and throw all vegetable, fruit, and table scraps into the compost bucket under my kitchen sink. Once full, I take the bucket of scraps and head out to the far corner of the yard where I dump it into a big pile. I toss in a few leaves and the pile turns itself into the most amazing, dark, rich soil I've ever seen. 

I was quite truly astonished when I first witnessed food and leaves turn into healthy soil. I had no idea of the method in which nature quickly breaks down organic matter, turning it into a lush product. Those of you who garden will understand my use of "lush" when referring to soil. Those of you who don't tend to the earth and grow a few things, you must start, even if it's a small pot of something near a window. 

The soil you create yourself can be used as mulch around trees and bushes, it can go into flower pots, and of course, can be mixed into soil in your garden. It enriches and feeds the earth while repelling the bugs that destroy your beloved plants. 

Strong, healthy soil is the key to organic gardening and to keeping plants thriving so they are not attacked by pests. This makes the use of caustic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides on our precious earth all the more ridiculous, since these chemicals deplete the soil. This weakens the plants, strips them of nutrients, and brings on even more pests. 

Composting is an amazing, wonderful way to help heal this precious earth. It is one way to give back to this planet which has provided us with all we need. And once you start, you won't want to see another banana peel or broccoli stalk go into the trash, because you will know what it's capable of becoming. 

My friend Rosanne (an earthy Taurus, naturally) taught me how to make a compost pile. I was finding it all mysterious and complicated, but she changed this. Her method follows. 

Use a bucket under the sink for your kitchen scraps. Outside, dig a hole about two feet deep and two to three feet wide. Put your cast-off food scraps in it with some leaves. Cover these with some dirt. Every few days, turn the pile a bit with a shovel or pitchfork to aerate it. If it's dry, add some water so it becomes like a wrung out sponge. 

Keep adding to the pile. When it’s fairly large, dig another hole next to it and begin adding fresh scraps to this new pile, allowing the older one to cook and do its thing. 

Out of the few methods I've tried, Rosanne's is the best and easiest. I've heard people say you have to do it in layers, adding food, then leaves, then dirt, and so on. But it's too complicated. All you need do is toss your scraps in and cover them with dirt. Add a few leaves and cuttings from plants or grass, mix once in awhile, and add some water occasionally. In very cold climates you would need to use alternatives. In this case, check with your local waste management company to see if they offer compost bins. 

In the past couple of years, I have used a black compost bin instead of making my pile on the ground. This has served to keep Rami, my Labrador-German Shepherd foodie, from eating everything in the pile. But it doesn't work as well. It isn't as fast or efficient. My next step will be to put a little enclosure around the pile, so it keeps the critters out.

If you live in an apartment or a place where an outdoor pile isn't possible, there are now counter top compost makers. To find out more about them, you can do an internet search of counter top composters. You’ll see there are many styles and a wide price range to choose from. 

Even if you aren't a gardener or don’t have a green thumb, just spreading your homemade compost onto the earth, perhaps around a few trees in your neighborhood, will help repair this place we have for so long treated with disregard.

 

Dr. Christina Grant is a holistic healer, teacher, and intuitive counselor. You are welcome to visit her blog, contact her, and sign up for her e-newsletter at: www.christinagrant.com. 

 

 

 

Beware: U.S. Census Scam-Scammers

 
Because I had posted about the 2010 US Census, I didn't want to leave out the warning that there WILL be Scams! This little article should raise awareness! Please pass it along!  Sharon

U.S. Census Scam-Scammers impersonating as U.S Census employees!

Personal information of any individual is a data which if gets into the wrong hands can not only harm that particular individual, but the society on a whole also stands at a risk.

One of the most important work that needs to be carried out by the U.S government every 10 years is the U.S Census process. It is a process which spans between 15-18 months during which U.S census employees will reach out to every household recording important information such as details regarding age, address, gender, race, birth date, marital status etc.

Every person who holds a U.S citizenship (by birth or acquired) is bound by law to provide information to census officials. This data will then be used for determination and allocation of funds to citizens in need.

The U.S census department can use a variety of methods to reach out to citizens for collection of personal information eg personal visits, phone calls etc. This is also a golden opportunity for scammers to collect important personal information for their census scam. Census scam is one of the most simplest of scams wherein scammers can easily represent themselves as employees of U.S census department. Scammers impersonating employees of the U.S census department poses a greater risk since there is no single way in which U.S census employees might contact the citizens. This serves as a blessing in disguise for all scammers. Now, the big question that pops up in the mind of every citizen is-how to differentiate a legitimate U.S census employee from a scammer? Some guidelines mentioned below can be of help:

1.Though U.S census employees contact citizens either through personal visits or by phone calls, they will never ask for your personal information through the internet. Never provide any personal details to anyone through email.

2.Social security number, credit card details and account information is something which any legitimate U.S census employee will never ask or is not entitled to ask. Do not provide any such details to a person, even if that person is from the U.S census department.

3.Employees of the U.S census department can never ask for money or tell you that you owe the government (even if you do).

4.Employees of the U.S census department are specifically instructed to be polite with each and every citizen or non-resident that they contact. If anyone does come across an official who is trying to be aggressive or trying to intimidate/coax you into something, citizens have the right to refuse giving any information and are advised to report the matter to the authorities.

5.Lastly, and the most important detail to be kept in mind by every citizen is to ask for a device or document or both for the purpose of verifying the identity of the person representing the U.S census department. It is the duty of every U.S census employee to provide his/her identification to every individual that is being visited. It is also the fundamental right of every citizen to ask for and verify the details regarding identification, from any person representing the U.S census department.

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

The Census Time Line

 

As promised, here are the time lines from the beginning of our country's census-taking days! Again all the credit goes to the Readers Digest.

(To the right is a cartoon from the late 1800's called the 'census man' for those of you wondering!)

The Time Line

1787 / The U.S. Constitution mandates that a national census be conducted every ten years to determine seats in the House of Representatives and to guide tax policy.

1790 / The first census records the head of household’s name and counts occupants (slaves are tallied as three fifths of a person). Total cost: $44,000.

1810 / To get a sense of the national economy, Congress orders census takers to tally manufacturers too.

1830 / Census-taking marshals and their assistants are finally given officially printed census forms so they won’t have to use whatever blank paper they find handy.

1840 / Census grows to more than 70 questions, including the number of “insane and idiotic” in each household.

1850 / All free household residents are now recorded, in addition to the head.

1860 / The census, especially its industrial statistics, will prove useful in assessing the relative strengths of the North and South during the Civil War.

1880 / The government gives federal marshals a break and hires “enumerators.”

1890 / Hands-free! Electronic punch-card machines are introduced.

1930 / Census takers begin to mea¬-sure unemployment. Jobless respondents not hard to find.

1950s / Gigantic UNIVAC I computer helps tabulate results; still relies on punch cards to do so.

1980 / The ever more exact census becomes ever more politicized: States, local governments, and civil rights groups file lawsuits challenging the results.

1998 / Cities and states that lost funding after the ’90 census support a suit to use statistical sampling to adjust for under- and overcounts, with President Clinton’s endorsement. The Supreme Court rules against them 5 to 4 in 1999.

2010 / In March, more than 120 million census forms will be mailed out. If you don’t reply, expect to hear from one of the Census Bureau’s 1.4 million temporary hires.

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

Are you ready for the 2010 Census?

 
While we are all talking about HOW to add babies into our world the politicians are working out how to COUNT all of us here in the good ole US of A! I thought that I would share a few Census facts with you. You can be sure that you will be a little more informed when one of these census takers knocks on your door! Thanks to the Readers Digest for the following information:

Every ten years, the U.S. government essentially takes attendance, using results to distribute seats in the House of Representatives and $400 billion in federal aid. Will this year’s census make some people angry? We can count on it.

Flash Points

Winners, losers: The 2000 census results were good news for Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Texas: Each state gained two seats in the House of Representatives, thanks to population gains. Illinois, Ohio, and New York lost seats. For 2010, experts predict that the Northeast will lose four congressional seats and the Midwest will shed six, with five seats apiece heading to the South and West.

No citizen left behind? Accuracy is a big issue. In one study, the U.S. Census Monitoring Board used projections and statistical sampling of the 2000 census to determine that the final tally missed three million people, causing the District of Columbia and 31 states to lose $4.1 billion in federal funding. This drives Democrats nuts, since the undercounted are most likely to be part of their constituency: poor people and minorities, who might be difficult to track down or wary of government.

Math and class: Given that one person’s statistical-sampling-based projections are another’s agenda-driven cooking of the books, Republicans have resisted efforts to adjust census results using mathematical tools. On the traditionalists’ side: the U.S. Constitution, which in mandating a census called for an “actual enumeration,” not a guesstimate.

Count me out: In June, Michele Bachmann, a Republican congresswoman from Minnesota, vowed not to fully respond to the 2010 census, calling it government intrusion. Participation, however, isn’t optional. Failure to fill out the census form is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000. (Wrongful disclosure of confidential information, on the other hand, is a felony.)

The seed of controversy: Census “partners” help in counting harder-to-reach groups. One, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), proved especially divisive—even before an undercover video surfaced, showing its workers offering advice to brothel owners on passing off underage prostitutes as legal dependents.

Measure for Measure: A snapshot of the tallies, then and now

Population

1790: 3,900,000

2009: 308,000,000

Census Takers

Number in 1790: 650

Number in 2010: 650,000

Participation

67%: Mail-in response rate for 2000 census, after declining from 78 percent in 1970

$90 million

Amount the government saves in door-to-door census worker salaries with each 1 percent increase in mail-in response rate.

Marital Status

1880: First year included on census forms

2010: First year same-sex married couples allowed to declare *Note*

Urban Population

Cities with the biggest gains, 2000–2008

New York

Houston

Phoenix

... and with the biggest losses

New Orleans

Philadelphia

Cleveland

79:

Percentage of people living in an urban area in 2000—up from 51 percent in 1920

An Early Look Trends for 2010

The Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey offers specifics you won’t find in the 2010 census. Some highlights:

*For the first time in a decade, the total number of foreign-born residents did not grow.

*The share of people who have never married increased 4 percent from 2000 to 2008.

*Real median household income declined nationwide, ranging from $37,790 in Mississippi to $70,545 in Maryland.

*he median price of a home fell to $197,600, with the biggest declines in Nevada and California.

Forward Thinking

We know where you live. Really. This year, many enumerators, or census takers, will carry handheld computers equipped with a Global Positioning System to help track down addresses. GPS use will make the searching go faster and increase productivity, but the big advantage, according to the Census Bureau, is that adding GPS coordinates for addresses to the bureau’s database will ensure that an accurate location is recorded for each resident. That will help officials redraw congressional districts if necessary.

Keeping it brief: There will be just ten questions on the 2010 census form—one of the shortest since the first enumeration, in 1790. (Question No. 1: How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?) It will use 30 percent less ink than the 2000 census and be printed on 30 percent recycled paper. And there will be no long-form supplemental survey: These days, the bureau gets much of its most detailed information about us from the annual American Community Survey and the every-five-years Economic Census.

Oficina del Censo: The upcoming census will be the first to offer Spanish-language questionnaires—part of an effort to increase participation by Hispanics, many of whom fear filling out the government form if they are in the country illegally. (In fact, the census doesn’t ask about citizenship, only nationality. And cities benefit from having illegal, as well as legal, immigrants participate, since larger urban populations mean more federal aid.) Also encouraging a better count? Telemundo producers, who made a character in a popular Spanish-language soap opera a census worker to help ease fears of the count.

Bargain rate: U.S. officials may want to look to Switzerland. Its 2010 census will be the first that annually synthesizes information gleaned from local and regional population registers, records of buildings and dwellings, and other public information, supplemented by a sample survey of 200,000 people. The new approach, according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, offers “an excellent cost/benefit ratio.” Its cost? About $10 million per year. (They take their census annually.) The U.S. price tag for 2010? Nearly $15 billion.

Tomorrow I will share with you the time line!

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

Unexplained Infertility Resolved for One 97 Year Old Woman

 She was 97 and having an ultrasound done for maybe the 2nd time in her life. Her granddaughter was standing next to her worried and asking the technician all kinds of questions as the tech checked to see if the fall the older woman had taken had broken any pelvic bones. Already it was determined that the left hip was broken and would need surgery.

As the wand glided over a flat abdomen the tech, seemingly speaking to herself, "Well, your uterus is really tipped". The granddaughter looked at her grandmother in surprise and then asked the technician if that would be a good reason why her grandmother (in her much younger years) couldn't become pregnant. And, of course, the answer was a resounding "Yes!" Apparently it was tipped THAT much!

So at age 97, a woman finally found out, after adopting one son, living through a couple of world wars, a man landing on the moon, welcoming three grandchildren into the world, outliving her husband, moving in with her granddaughter and losing her only son, why she never became pregnant. After years of trying and years of acceptance a mystery was solved. The wonder of the unexplained infertility was over...and a peace of mind was had.

My grandmother lived to be 100 years old and died peacefully in her sleep in 1999 while I was carrying twins as a Gestational Surrogate. She is still greatly missed by all!

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

Invictus with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon: A LaMothe Movie Review

  Having family in for the holidays? Are they into politics? Rugby? Old enough to remember the 1995 World Cup Championship match? Looking for a team to cheer for? Well if that is what you want, Invictus will give it to you.

 

I really didn't know what to expect when I bought the tickets to see Invictus with my husband last weekend but I certainly didn't expect to "learn" anything...just another sports movie about a team that had already played out history while I was living a very different life. (Where WAS I in 1995? Under a rock? I didn't remember any of this in the news or maybe I wasn't even watching!)

 

Invictus is awe inspiring, uplifting and has its share of comic relief, however, it isn't for the entire family. Younger children would be bored while teenagers would need to either be studying South Africa and President Mandela or just in love with sports stories. For me, I came away with a new respect for President Mandela and his country and that is worth the price of a ticket!

 

Synopsis

From director Clint Eastwood, 'Invictus' tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to help unite their country.

Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.

 

Starring

Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Julian Lewis Jones, Adjoa Andoh

Director(s)

Clint Eastwood

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros.

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Runtime

   134  min

Sharon LaMothe: 2 year in a row voted Top 100 in the Wellsphere People's Health Blogger Awards

Thank you for voting for me and my blog(s) in the Wellsphere People's Health Blogger awards 2009, making the top 100 a second year in a row! Your confidence and comments are truly appreciated!

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

The Side Road to Happiness By Lybi Ma

 

You may wonder why it's so important to loosen your creative juices, but diving into innovative pursuits can be your ticket to a healthier, more joyful life. When a painter paints, for example, he becomes utterly immersed in what he is doing. This focused engagement takes deep involvement where time seems to move effortlessly. The fulfillment that provides is at the heart of happiness. Forget money and worldly possessions. They're not even close. Instead, plunging yourself in work, a hobby, or craft will get you to the bliss you're looking for.

 Go With the Flow: Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi conferred the label "flow," on the mental state in which you are fully engaged in creativity. In his research on happiness and well-being, he learned that people can become so absorbed that they feel they are outside of time. Other researchers have found that the passion of such pursuits can keep you physically healthy and out of the doctor's office.

Up to the Challenge? Psychiatrist Gregory Berns of Emory University takes the idea of engagement even further. He has found that experiencing discomfort is necessary to get you to contentment, arguing that satisfaction is to some extent generated by the stress hormone cortisol's effects on the dopamine system. That's why some people derive joy from extreme challenges. Think about the marathon runner who slogs through 26 miles of pain and suffering or the crossword puzzler who gets that same feeling when everything falls in place in "Aha!" clarity.

I'm Not That Creative: Yet, you wonder, isn't creativity reserved for the likes of artists, writers, and inventors? Not so fast. We all know that kindergartners are bundles of creative energy. But all of us were once in kindergarten, weren't we? So where does this early innovation go? The truth is: We are all creative, but somewhere along the way it was beaten out of us. Finding your passion is the key; think about what moves your motor and start small. But whatever you do, start somewhere.

Creative Thinking in Suits: Granted, you may not play the cello like Yo-Yo Ma or paint like Picasso, but creative thinking can be deployed in any profession. Take sales and marketing: Each new sale requires a different approach. "If that doesn't work, I'll try this..." Corporate America knows a good thing when it sees it. Companies like Microsoft and Toyota are using the idea of flow to get the best out of their workers—with employee satisfaction and productivity in mind.

Got What It Takes? To be creative you have to be passionate about what you are doing. This passion will lead you to a more joyful life. What helps? Creative people do not live by rules, they know how to do their own thing. These people are also more open to experience and fantasy; that's why they are happy to take more risks. And remember, genius does not require a tortured spirit—Van Gogh is not the epitome of the creative soul.

Showing Up: Sometimes just showing up is all it takes. Make a time and place for your pursuit, and your body will slip into the moment as soon as you allow it. If you follow a pattern, it will become somewhat automatic. You might even find yourself pining for your easel when that time of day comes. Beyond that, stick with the program; nothing will happen if you quit in the thick of it.

Work Is Play: And play is work. Don't worry about the end product, just concentrate on the process. Fussing over finished results will get you nowhere. And don't fret over what other people might think. You're doing this for you, not for them. Think about the knitter who pulls apart a sweater just because she wants do it all over again. Sounds crazy, but it can be worth it.